South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Rapid City, South Dakota · Public · 79.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 81/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is a specialized public engineering and science university in Rapid City, enrolling 2,071 students. It earns a ROI score of 81 (Strong Value). Average six-year earnings are $56,400 - well above the national median for bachelor's degree holders - and the payback period is just 5.9 years. The repayment rate is an exceptional 95.7% at three years, meaning nearly all graduates who borrowed are actively reducing their debt. In-state tuition of $10,500 and a net price of $20,183 make SDSMT affordable relative to earnings potential. Every major program tracked posts earnings above $68,000 within one year of graduation. The 53% completion rate is the one meaningful caution: while high by engineering school standards for an open-access public institution, it means nearly half of students do not graduate. Still, even graduates who transfer or leave with partial credit may benefit from the technical curriculum. SDSMT is particularly well-suited to students with strong math and science preparation who seek an applied, job-focused engineering education at a public price.
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology scores in the top 13% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $10,500/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $14,900/yr |
| Average net price | $20,183/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $80,732 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $72,257 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $56,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 5.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 52.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,071 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $10,500/year ($14,900/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $20,183/year, or roughly $80,732 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $15,348/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $21,993/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $27,000, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($56,400) and comes to 0.48, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $15,348 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $17,909 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,366 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,176 |
| $110,001+ | $21,993 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income students at SDSMT pay a net price of $15,348 per year, or roughly $61,000 over four years. Against average six-year earnings of $56,400 - and often substantially more for engineering graduates - the payback period for this group likely falls well under the institutional average of 5.9 years. The 95.7% three-year repayment rate means that even lower-income borrowers are overwhelmingly staying current on their debt, a rare and encouraging signal.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income students ($48,001 - $75,000) pay around $18,366 per year net, totaling about $73,000 over four years. Given median engineering program earnings starting above $68,000, the payback period remains well under a decade.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income students pay near the full net price of $21,993 per year - approximately $88,000 over four years. Even at full cost, SDSMT's engineering graduates recover the investment quickly.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | $85,350 | B |
| Chemical Engineering | $90,845 | B |
| Civil Engineering | $80,613 | B |
| Industrial Engineering | $92,815 | B |
| Electrical Engineering | $94,201 | B+ |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $95,639 | B+ |
| Metallurgical Engineering | $71,985 | B |
| Mining and Mineral Engineering | $88,904 | B+ |
| Geological and Earth Sciences | $48,069 | - |
| Geological/Geophysical Engineering | $75,779 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Mining and Mineral Engineering
Mining Engineering graduates earn a one-year median of $90,514 - the highest in the institution - with four-year earnings of $88,904 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.308 (grade B+). This is a nationally rare program with strong demand from the Black Hills and Western energy sectors. Thirteen recent graduates is a small cohort, but earnings consistency is high. Students interested in commodity-driven industries should note that mining earnings can be cyclical with commodity prices.
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering graduates earn $73,551 at one year and $94,201 at four years, with a below-average debt load of $22,541 and a ratio of 0.306 (grade B+). The 28-graduate cohort provides reasonable statistical confidence. Strong four-year earnings growth reflects demand from defense contractors and technology firms that actively recruit from SDSMT. This program delivers one of the best risk-adjusted returns in the portfolio.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering is the largest program with 76 graduates. One-year earnings of $69,667 grow to $85,350 at four years with median debt of $27,000 (ratio 0.388, grade B). The broad engineering credential opens doors in manufacturing, aerospace, and energy. This is the backbone of SDSMT's enrollment and represents a dependable, high-value pathway for students who complete the degree.
Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering posts $72,785 at one year and $90,845 at four years with $28,000 median debt (ratio 0.385, grade B). Forty-two graduates provide a robust sample. The program's strong earnings relative to modest total costs make it a high-value choice.
Civil Engineering
Civil Engineering graduates earn $68,755 at one year and $80,613 at four years with $27,388 median debt (ratio 0.398, grade B). Thirty-nine graduates anchor the dataset. Infrastructure spending driven by federal investment programs supports strong regional demand for civil engineers. Earnings growth from year one to four suggests steady advancement in project management roles.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 93.5% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 95.7% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 82.0% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 82.7% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How South Dakota School of Mines and Technology’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 79.9% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 580-680 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 560-660 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 24-30 |
| Enrollment | 2,071 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 16.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,245 |
SDSMT admits about 80% of applicants, with SAT Math scores ranging from 580 to 680 and ACT composites from 24 to 30. The college expects genuine quantitative preparation - students at the bottom of the range should be confident in their math foundation before enrolling in engineering coursework. The relatively open admission reflects South Dakota's goal of building a technical workforce, but the program rigor drives a 47% non-completion rate.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
SDSMT's repayment rate is 95.7%.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (this school) | 81 | $20,183 | $72,257 |
| University of Connecticut-Stamford | 84 | $16,798 | $73,997 |
| SUNY Polytechnic Institute | 79 | $14,164 | $64,355 |
| Charter Oak State College | 77 | $15,815 | $64,209 |
| Dakota State University | 43 | $21,057 | $50,970 |
| Black Hills State University | 31 | $15,911 | $46,674 |
Who Thrives Here
SDSMT fits motivated students with demonstrated quantitative aptitude - ACT composite of 24 - 30 is the typical range - who are committed to engineering, computer science, or applied sciences. The campus culture is intensely technical and career-oriented, with strong industry ties to mining, energy, defense, and technology sectors. Students who need broad general education options, strong liberal arts programming, or a large urban campus should look elsewhere. Rural Rapid City provides a lower cost of living but fewer internship corridors than major metro areas.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology pays off. You'd pay about $20,183 a year after aid ($80,732 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $72,257 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 5.9 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $27,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $56,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology: Common Questions
Is South Dakota School of Mines and Technology worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students South Dakota School of Mines and Technology pays off. It scores 81/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $20,183 a year after aid ($80,732 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $72,257 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 5.9 years to earn back.
How much does South Dakota School of Mines and Technology cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $20,183 a year, or roughly $80,732 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do South Dakota School of Mines and Technology graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $72,257 ten years after enrolling, roughly $30,457 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off South Dakota School of Mines and Technology?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 5.9 years for South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do South Dakota School of Mines and Technology graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $27,000, against average earnings of $56,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology?
The six-year graduation rate is 52.9%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.